WRAL.com - Strange Headlines

Conjoined barn swallows cause stir in Arkansas

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:02:13 -0400

It's an Arkansas bird story that at first might be hard to swallow. A pair of conjoined barn swallows, attached at the hip by skin and possibly muscle tissue, will be sent to the Smithsonian Institution for study and examination, Arkansas wildlife officials said Friday. If confirmed, officials say it could prove to be an incredibly rare find - a set of conjoined twins among birds.

NY man loses prosthetic leg while skydiving

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:58:13 -0400

An upstate New York man says he's still upbeat despite losing the same leg twice. Scott Listemann told the Poughkeepsie Journal that he laughs about losing his foot and lower leg "both the first time and the second time."

Jim Smiths gather to honor Jim Smiths

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:59:13 -0400

Jim Smith says he's never met a Jim Smith he didn't like. And he's met more than most people. That's because the 71-year-old is in Pittsburgh for the four-day Jim Smith Society Fun Fest which runs through Sunday, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Friday.

Man accused of doing 400-yard motorcycle wheelie

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:07:12 -0400

Cookeville police said they arrested a man after observing him doing a 400-yard wheelie on his motorcycle. The man, 29, was charged with reckless driving.

Fla. officer fired for demanding free coffee

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:59:14 -0400

An internal affairs report says a Daytona Beach police officer demanded free coffee and tea from a Starbucks and threatened employees with slower emergency response times if they refused.

Mass. turnpike driver gives toll attendant $100

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:59:14 -0400

A toll worker on the Massachusetts Turnpike is figuring out what to do with a $100 bill a driver handed him. Gary Bonarrigo said a woman gave him the money in a greeting card Wednesday evening. The card said "share" with a drawing of a star.

5,000 gallons of molasses spill on Texas highway

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:48:13 -0400

A sticky mess has been cleaned up after an overturned tanker truck poured 5,000 gallons of molasses onto a major Texas highway.

Afraid of laundry? You will be after reading this

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:27:12 -0400

Mara Ranger will be a little paranoid doing laundry now. When she was removing clothes from the washing machine at her Maine farmhouse Wednesday, the clothes moved. She told WMTW-TV, "I jumped back" and saw a snake. She quickly shut the lid and called for help.

Pizza clerk surprised to find robber is her dad

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:35:12 -0400

Police said they will not file charges against a clerk whose parents and husband were charged with robbing the pizza restaurant where she worked, officials said. Police said the clerk didn't know they planned to rob the Pizza Patron Friday night.

Flowerpot's spontaneous combustion blamed for fire

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:22:12 -0400

Fire investigators said a fire that destroyed a Mendota Heights home last week was caused by a flowerpot. Fire Chief John Maczko said a flowerpot on the home's deck spontaneously combusted.